Christmas Comes to Willow Creek (1987)

Title: Christmas Comes to Willow Creek
Year of Release: 1987
Available On: Tubi – Free as of 06/20
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Jingle Bells

Oh, we went waaaay far back with this one, y’all. The late ’80s were a strange time for movies. Willow Creek is a town that’s down on its luck — the local cannery has been closed down, and times are tough. If you like the Dukes of Hazard, you might like this movie, because my partner immediately recognized Ray as John Schneider. Ray is kind of a n’ere-do-well, but his boss, Al (Hoyt Axton), seems like a gem. Al purchased a whole shipment of toys for the children in Willow Creek, the town where he grew up. And that’s not all, because the other half of the battling brothers, Pete, is played by Tom Wopat.

Economic depression is not a disaster.
Well, it is to my family.

— The Willow Creek Townspeople

Anyway, the estranged brothers have been corralled to drive the aforementioned gifts up to the Alaskan town where Al grew up. They have to figure out a way to co-exist with Pete’s kid (Zachary Ansley) for the duration of the trip.

Honestly? This movie is dated, but it is so far from the worst movie I’ve watched. It’s not even close to the most offensive. This movie knows what it is. The Jesus-y stuff stays very “Christmas magic” and not so much “hellfire and brimstone.” My favorite brand. I’m shocked as shit, but this was truly one of the better attempts I’ve watched during this god-forsaken pandemic. And I’m not even drunk!